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YouTube blocks Russian senators’ accounts amid sanctions, upper house says

It is reported that there were more than 200,000 subscribers and 20,000 videos on YouTube channels

MOSCOW, October 18. /TASS/. YouTube has blocked accounts belonging to Russian senators amid the ongoing sanctions, and all their video clips and posts were deleted, the Federation Council revealed on Tuesday.

"Google has blocked the Federation Council’s accounts on YouTube. There were more than 200,000 subscribers and 20,000 videos on [its] YouTube channels. The accounts of the Federation Council and VmesteTV on the YouTube video-hosting platform have been blocked and all their posted information deleted without any possibility of restoring it," the upper house of Russia’s parliament said.

"Your account has been blocked in accordance with our rules regarding export restrictions and the use of sanctions," the Federal Council revealed, citing Google’s guideline message.

Senators used to livestream Federation Council sessions and committee meetings, congresses and forums, and post their comments on high-profile issues, along with educational programs on Russian history, the upper house added. "Fearing such developments, the Federation Council and VmesteTV have been actively developing channels on Russian platforms for all the video content to be available for Russian uses regardless of actions by unfriendly countries," the Federation Council said.

Specifically, Federation Council broadcasts are available on VK, Odnoklassniki, Rutube, Telegram and Yandex.Zen social networks.